Mix and match

February 2, 2018

Orderfox.com is a new web-based platform with the primary aim of putting precision subcontract engineering companies in touch with prospective buyers. Think of it as a matchmaking service for engineers. Dave Tudor caught up with Bernd Schuler, managing director of Orderfox AG.

DT: First of all, can you tell me about the company’s history? How long have you been in business? Where did the idea for Orderfox.com come from?

BS: The Orderfox.com platform was launched on 1st June 2017 but the actual preparation and development work started in 2014. Through continuous development, we created a global platform that seamlessly connects providers of precision subcontract engineering companies with buyers. Orderfox.com provides intelligent filter functions for both parties and delivers precise results. This milestone for digital platforms is the result of many years of industry know-how in the manufacturing industry, global market knowledge and workshops with subcontract engineering companies and buyers.

DT: Where are you based? How many people do you employ?

We are based in the Principality of Liechtenstein with currently around 50 employees. This number is constantly increasing. We also run two overseas offices in the USA and Asia to strengthen our global presence.

DT: Can you walk me through the Orderfox.com process? I understand there are two distinct sides to the website: providers of subcontract machining services and companies requiring those services (buyers). Can you explain how it works?

BS: It is simple process for both parties. Whenever a subcontractor wants to increase business by finding new clients or has extra capacity on the shopfloor, he or she can look for a buyer on the platform who has the exact same needs that the subcontract manufacturer can offer. On the other hand, the buyer can find the perfect partner for the production of CNC parts that may be required very urgently. The whole process works on a local and global scale.

Bernd Schuler, managing director of Orderfox AG

The menu when advertising a job leads to areas like materials, size of the part, technology, certification, language, region or the type of supplier. Via intelligent filter functions, the criteria is matched seamlessly behind the scenes. With that said, a subcontractor will never see a job that doesn’t align with his or her manufacturing capabilities, because those parameters are established during the setting up of a company’s profile. It’s the same for the buyer – he will never find a CNC manufacturer that cannot produce his product. A job is online in real-time.

AM: How many registered companies do you have? Is it a 50/50 split between precision subcontractors and buyers? At what rate are registration numbers growing?

Currently we do have about 2,000 registered companies, with around 280,000 community members on our database. The split rate is around 50/50 although this changes on a daily basis. We have quite a number of new users every day that we verify to make sure there are only CNC related companies registered.

DT: Do you find that partnerships tend to be localised (close together geographically) or is it common for manufacturers and buyers from different countries to form partnerships? Is Orderfox.com available in different languages?

BS: We already have some success stories where there was a global partnership established, for example a subcontract manufacturer from Pune, India found a buyer in Switzerland over the platform and they are already working on their second project.

Orderfox.com is currently available in 22 languages and our goal is to expand the platform to 40 languages. The service provided should be as simple as possible. Everyone who advertised a CNC job with all its technical terms and parameters in a foreign language knows the benefits of doing that in their native tongue.

DT: What channels do you use to promote Orderfox.com?

BS: We use Industrial trade magazines, their online portals as well as all kinds of social media on a global scale to promote Orderfox.com. Dedicated sales teams in Europe, America and Asia are in constant contact with our users to increase the usability and the amount of jobs online. Our activities are constantly monitored to make sure we use the right channels that give us the biggest brand recognition on the one hand, and lots of new registrations on the other.

DT: Can you explain the pricing structure? Are there different levels? I understand initial registration is free. Is this correct?

BS: The registration and the use of Orderfox.com is free. There is no other pricing structure. For those interested, Orderfox.com offers a Premium Partner program which is an attractive marketing partnership with the globally unique and largest CNC industry platform.

As a Premium Partner of Orderfox.com, companies have unlimited and direct access to their target groups in Europe, America and Asia. Our Premium Partners receive additional, invaluable meta data and analyses. For example: How many CNC jobs with which technologies, materials and piece sizes for which industries are online? Which industries, technologies and materials are searched the most? In which regions are the most CNC jobs advertised and searched?

DT: Can you explain Privacy Mode?

If the user does not want to be contacted directly, privacy mode can be activated in the company profile. Then the contact details will be made anonymous within Orderfox.com

DT: You promote Orderfox.com as an Industry 4.0 platform. Could you explain?

BS: At the moment, Industry 4.0 is a term commonly used in the manufacturing industry, so since Orderfox.com is developed totally digitally and the entire working process is entirely digital, Orderfox.com is part of the global implementation of Industry 4.0. We see ourselves as part of the global Industry 4.0 community.

DT: Today’s world is mobile. Can Orderfox.com be used on a variety of different devices? Do you guarantee that your customer’s data will be safe? Is there an Orderfox.com app?

BS: You can use Orderfox.com on any device and it works. Our users can be confident that our security standards are state-of-the-art. There is no Orderfox.com app at the moment since we improve the platform on a daily basis for desktop and mobile devices.

DT: Customers will always need help. Are there dedicated support teams?

BS: Yes, we do have dedicated support teams that answer in real-time to our users’ requests. During 2018, we plan to have support teams in our overseas offices.

DT: I’m sure 2018 will be a busy time for Orderfox.com. Can you tell me about your future plans to enhance/grow the business?

As I mentioned before, we will increase our usability by expanding to 40 languages. Additionally, we want to implement new features such as a Knowledge and Trends area, a Job section, and a Global Event Calendar – to name just a few. By adding this additional functionality, we want to become the ultimate working tool for everyone working in the CNC industry. To be closer to our users, we will establish one office in the US and one in Asia.